§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to issuing protective clothing to British service personnel in the Gulf conflict using malathion sprays on captured Iraqi service men; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesStandard instructions are the MOD personnel applying dusting powder containing 1 per cent. malathion need not wear protective clothing unless performing lengthy collective treatment procedures. The relatively small number of Iraqi prisoners of war infested.with lice meant that individual.administration with dusting powder could take place and that collective spraying and protective clothing were not necessary. Protective clothing was, however, available had collective treatment taken place.